ROCKLEIGH, N.J. – Preparing to take a road trip this holiday season? While it’s a time to be thankful and merry, Irv Gordon – who as the first person to drive 2.8 million miles in the same car has taken more road trips than anyone – encourages people to also be keenly alert on the roadways.

Gordon is a 70-year old retired science teacher from Long Island who has gained worldwide notoriety for his shiny red 1966 Volvo P1800, which the Guinness Book of World Records honors as the highest mileage non-commercial vehicle driven by a single owner.

According to AAA, as many as 38 million people took to the roads last year for Thanksgiving weekend road trips.

“The holiday season means more people are driving to places to which they are not familiar and are in their cars for lengths of time to which they are not conditioned,” Gordon said. “Planning and diligence are key to ensuring a safe holiday road trip and that families reach the destination we all seek, a Happy New Year.”

Trading in your vehicle can be a very emotional experience. It’ s like saying goodbye to an old friend (or an old enemy if the car has been a bothersome a piece of crap). Despite the obvious, car owners have more of a sentimental value (“This is the first place I lost my virginity!”) to their vehicle compared to its actual worth when it comes to trading it in.

So here’s a little auto trade-in pop quiz to help you can do it right. Hopefully this will make the experience less painful than a nerve-exposed tooth pulled with rusty pliers.